Amos 5:14-24

14 Seek tov, and not rah, that ye may live; and so Hashem Elohei Tzva’os shall be with you, just as ye say He is.

15 Hate the rah, and love the tov, and establish mishpat in the sha’ar; it may be that Hashem Elohei Tzava’os will be gracious unto the she’erit Yosef.

16 Therefore Hashem Adonoi Elohei Tzva’os saith thus: Wailing shall be in all rechovot; and they shall cry in all the public squares, Alas! Alas! And they shall call the ikkar (farmer) to mourning, and such as are skillful of lamentation to wailing.

17 And in all kramim (vineyards) shall be wailing; for I will pass through thee, saith Hashem.

18 Hoy unto you that desire the Yom Hashem! Why do ye seek it? The Yom Hashem is choshech, and not ohr.

19 As if a man did flee from an ari, and a dov met him; or went into the bais, and leaned his hand on the kir (wall), and a nachash bit him.

20 Shall not the Yom Hashem be choshech, and not ohr? Even very dark, and no brightness in it?

21 I hate, I despise your chagim (religious festivals), and I will not stand in your atzerot (solemn assemblies).

22 Though ye offer Me olot and your minchot, I will not accept them; neither will I regard your choice shelamim (peace offerings).

23 Take thou away from Me the noise of thy shirim (songs); for I will not hear the melody of thy nevalim (harps).

24 But let mishpat run down as mayim, and tzedakah as a never failing stream.

Amos 5:14-24 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 5

In this chapter the prophet exhorts Israel to hear his lamentation over them for their impending ruin, Am 5:1-3; nevertheless to seek the Lord, and all that is good; to forsake their idols, and repent of their sins, in hopes of finding mercy, and living comfortably; or otherwise they must expect the wrath of God for their iniquities, especially their oppression of the poor, Am 5:4-15; otherwise it would be a time of weeping and wailing, of darkness and distress, however they might harden or flatter themselves, or make a jest of it, Am 5:16-20; for all their sacrifices and ceremonial worship would signify nothing, so long as they continued their idolatry with them Am 5:21-26; and therefore should surely go into captivity, Am 5:27.